Kiwi plant named ‘Hort51-1785’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct kiwi plant of the species  Actinidia chinensis  Planch. is described. The variety results from a controlled pollination using a female  A. chinensis  selection ‘Jing Feng’ (also known as 79-3, and by the accession code CK34_01) of unknown parentage, and a male  A. chinensis  selection CK40_02 of unknown parentage. Both parents (‘Jing Feng’ and CK40_02) are unpatented. The new variety is distinguished by its large globose-shaped fruit with a flat stylar end, golden coloured flesh and tangy sweet taste.

Genus and species of plant claimed: Actinidia chinensis.

Variety denomination: Hort51-1785.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Kiwi plants in cultivation are mainly varieties of A. deliciosa,particularly ‘Hayward’ although some A. chinensis and A. argutavarieties are grown. A. deliciosa and A. chinensis are closely relatedand varieties of both types have large fruit (˜100 g) with hair on theskin. The main varieties in New Zealand are ‘Hayward’ (A. deliciosa) and‘Hort16A’ (A. chinensis). Fruit are usually cut and eaten with a spoon.

All Actinidia species are dioecious, so female varieties have to beinterplanted with male pollinizers to ensure fruit production.

A. chinensis vines are deciduous and tend to grow vigorously in springand summer when rapidly-growing shoots can intertwine and tangle if notmanaged. Vines do best in a mild warm-temperate climate without latespring or early autumn frosts. They produce consistently heavy cropswhen grown in well-drained fertile soils and given regular irrigation indry spells.

A. chinensis flowers in spring (mid October-early December) in NewZealand. Harvest of A. chinensis fruit may occur between April andlate-May in New Zealand depending on the selection and location ofplantings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a new and distinctive kiwifruit variety havinga generally globose shaped fruit with short, soft, silky hair and agolden yellow flesh when ripe. This new variety is designated‘Hort51-1785’ and is derived from a controlled pollination using afemale tetraploid A. chinensis selection ‘Jing Feng’ (also known as79-3, and by the accession code CK34_(—)01) of unknown parentage, and amale tetraploid A. chinensis selection CK40_(—)02 of unknown parentage.

The female parent was introduced to New Zealand as vegetative plantmaterial from Jiangxi, China. The male parent was selected in NewZealand from seedling plants raised from an introduction of seed fromChina in 1989. Both parents are unpatented.

This new variety was created during the course of a plannedplant-breeding program, which was initiated during 1987 in Auckland, NewZealand. The cross was made on Nov. 24, 1994 in Te Puke, New Zealand.Seeds were sown in the winter of 1995 and 64 seedlings from this crosswere planted out in the field at Te Puke in August 1996. The selection‘Hort51-1785’ first flowered in November 1997 and fruit was firstassessed in May 1998. Selection ‘Hort51-1785’ was grafted in 1998 ontofour existing kiwifruit rootstocks in a clonal selection trial plotusing graftwood from the original seedling plant.

The new variety can be asexually reproduced as cuttings or by graftingor budding on to seedling or cutting-grown rootstocks of A. deliciosa orA. chinensis. Trial plantings of grafted plants established at the TePuke, Nelson and Kerikeri Research Centres in 1998 have shown that theunique combination of characters come true to form and are establishedand transmitted through succeeding asexual propagations.

‘Hort51-1785’ flowers at least two weeks later than Hort16A and requiresspecific tetraploid males to ensure adequate pollination.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows typical fruit of ‘Hort51-1785’ on the vine.

FIG. 2 shows typical fruit of ‘Hort51-1785’ in side profile.

FIG. 3 shows a stem end view of fruit of ‘Hort51-1785’.

FIG. 4 shows a stylar end view of fruit of ‘Hort51-1785’.

FIG. 5 shows fruit of ‘Hort51-1785’ in cross section.

FIG. 6 shows flowers of ‘Hort51-1785’.

FIG. 7 shows the leaf of ‘Hort51-1785’.

Photographs of fruit were taken at the normal harvest date. Fruit skincolor may vary depending upon extent of exposure to direct sunlight.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new tetraploid kiwifruit variety ‘Hort51-1785’ is pistillate(female), and produces imperfect flowers, i.e. the flowers produce onlysterile pollen and require a pollinizer to set fruit.

TABLE OF CHARACTERISTICS

Horticultural terminology is used in accordance with revised UPOVguidelines for kiwi. All dimensions are in millimeters, weights in grams(unless otherwise stated). Color references are in accord with theR.H.S. Colour Chart, the Royal Horticultural Society, London, 1966.

‘Hort51-1785’ PLANT (Measurements from samples of 10, unless stated)Plant: sex expression female (flowers imperfect) Plant: ploidytetraploid (2n = 2x = 116) Plant: vigour medium Young shoot: hairspresent Young shoot: density of hairs medium Young shoot: type of hairstomentose Young shoot: anthocyanin color- absent or very weak ation ofgrowing tip Young shoot: anthocyanin color- absent or very weak ation ofleaf axil STEM Stem: coloration of leaf axil absent or very weak Stem:diameter medium (mean 9.5 mm, range 7.6-10.5 mm at mid point¹) Stem:length 1.2-1.8 m Stem: dormant bud diameter large (mean 6.3 mm, range5.00- 7.16 mm) Stem: color on upper side of shoot greyish-brown (near177A to 199A) Stem: character of bark smooth Stem: hairs absent Stem:conspicuousness of lenticels conspicuous Stem: number of lenticels/cm²mean 3.32/cm² (range bark area 1.8-5.02/cm²) Stem: color of lenticelsbrown, near 166C Stem: size of lenticels - length mean 3.27 mm, range1.54-4.53 mm Stem: size of lenticels - maximum mean 1.34 mm, range0.82-2.03 width mm Stem: size of bud support medium Stem: visibility ofbud (dormant visible canes) Stem: number of hairs visible on many bud(dormant canes) LEAF (Mature) Leaf: general shape of blade very broadlyovate Leaf: length 124 mm Leaf: width 151 mm Leaf: petiole length 103 mmLeaf: shape of tip of blade acute Leaf: shape of base of blade cordateLeaf: arrangement of leaf bases overlapping Leaf: puckering/blisteringon upper medium side of blade Leaf: margin ciliate Leaf: green color ofupper side of medium green, near 147A blade Leaf: glossiness of uppersurface of medium blade Leaf: color of lower side of blade light green,near 148B Leaf: glaucosity (lower side of absent blade) Leaf: hairs onpetiole present Leaf: density of hairs on petiole medium Leaf:anthocyanin coloration on medium upper side of petiole FLOWERInflorescence: predominant number three of flowers Flower: pedicelhairs: present Flower: pedicel length of hairs very short Flower:pedicel length mean 27.09 mm Flower: number of sepals six or sevenFlower: color of sepals green, near 148D Flower: length of sepals mean11.45 mm, range 8.86- 12.37 mm Flower: diameter of sepals mean 9.09 mm,range 8.32-9.67 Flower: diameter (terminal or king 51 mm (mean of 7flowers) flower when fully open) Flower: mean number of petals per 6flower Flower: length of petals mean 28.77 mm, range 27.0-31.6 mmFlower: width of petals mean 23.89 mm, range 22.4-26.0 Flower: ratiopetal length/width 1.21 Flower: arrangement of petals overlappingFlower: petal shoulder present Flower: primary color of petals white,near 155B (when fully open) Flower: type of coloration of petalsbi-coloured, green at base Flower: secondary color of base green, near144D of petals Flower: filament color white, near 157A Flower: anthercolor yellow, near 16C Flower: attitude of styles semi-erect Flower:curvature of styles absent Flower: color of styles white, near 155DFlower: amount of hair on ovary dense Flower: colour of ovary white near157B FRUIT Fruit: weight mean 99 g Fruit: length 66 mm Fruit: width(max) 61 mm Fruit: width (min) 58 mm Fruit: core diameter (max) 12.4 mmFruit: core diameter (min) 7.8 mm Fruit: locule number 30 Fruit:peduncle length 35 mm Fruit: peduncle width 3.9 mm Fruit: general shapeglobose Fruit: cross section at median circular Fruit: general shape ofstylar end flat Fruit: shape of shoulder on stalk squared end Fruit:presence of calyx ring present Fruit: expression of calyx ring stronglyexpressed Fruit: skin color at harvest (fruit medium brown, near 199Bstill hard) Fruit: skin colour change during absent ripening Fruit: skincolor at maturity for medium brown, near 199B consumption Fruit:lenticel color at maturity near 164C Fruit: hairs present Fruit: densityof hairs sparse Fruit: type of hairs pubescent Fruit: hair length shortFruit: concentration of hairs uniform Fruit: adherence of hairs to skinweak (when rubbed) Fruit: core diameter (at largest dia- small(approximately 12.4 mm) meter) Fruit: core shape (in cross section)transverse elliptic Fruit: core woody spike weak Fruit: prominence ofcore woody small spike Fruit: outer pericarp color at yellow, near 162Dmaturity for consumption Fruit: inner pericarp col. (locules) yellow,near 162B at mat. for consumption Fruit: core color at maturity paleyellow, near 14D Fruit: sweetness (Brix level) at 13.8% (range11.4-16.2%) maturity for consumption Fruit: vitamin C content (45 fruit133 mg/100 g fresh weight sample) (range 123-140 mg/100 g fresh weight)mean of 5 plants, 3 values, per plant. Fruit: seed colour at maturity(in blackish-brown, near 200A flesh) Fruit: seed colour when dry darkbrown, near 200C Fruit: average seed number per mean 514, range 465-596fruit Fruit: seed length mean 2.45 mm Fruit: seed maximum diameter mean1.71 mm EVENTS Time of vegetative budbreak medium (mid September) Timeof beginning of flowering 8 Nov. (2004) Time of maturity for harvest (atlast week of May (Brix 10%) under nominated Brix level) New Zealandgrowing conditions ¹Measured in the middle of the cane i.e. halfway downthe full length and midway between two buds.

Observations were made on plants growing at Te Puke, New Zealand. Theseplants had been grafted on to seedling kiwifruit rootstocks.

-   Rootstocks: ‘Hort51-1785’ vines can be grown on the same rootstocks    as ‘Hort16A’. Rootstocks currently being used in New Zealand    include A. deliciosa and A. chinensis seedlings, ‘Hayward’ (not    patented) and ‘Kaimai’ (not patented) rooted cuttings.-   Cropping: Young vines of ‘Hort51-1785’ crop heavily when young, and    must be thinned directly after fruit set to reduce crop loads and to    ensure fruit size is not compromised by over cropping. Vines of    ‘Hort51-1785’ begin to bear fruit in their second year from graft    and can be expected to reach full capacity at about 5 years.-   Storage life: The storage life of ‘Hort51-1785’ fruit is 20 weeks at    0° C., if stored in unventilated containers.-   Pest and disease resistance/susceptibility: Unsprayed fruit of    ‘Hort51-1785’ is slightly more susceptible to Greedy Scale    infestation, but less damaged by Leaf Roller caterpillar compared to    ‘Hayward’. Flowers of ‘Hort51-1785’ are more susceptible to fungal    Sclerotinia infection during wet weather, possibly due to the higher    flower density (three flowers per inflorescence) compared to    ‘Hayward’ (single flowers).

OTHER DATA

-   Fruit size: Date gathered from harvesting all fruit, from 6 vines,    in May 2004.

Mean fruit 99.2 g maximum: 138 g minimum: 73 g weight: Mean fruit 332maximum: 1084 minimum: 102 number: Mean yield: 38.8 kg maximum: 14.1 kgminimum: 81.4 kg

FRUIT FLESH AND SKIN COLOR MEASUREMENT

Color chart: R.H.S. Colour Chart, The Royal Horticultural Society,London, 1966.

Fruit: core color at harvest 150C to 150D Fruit: seed color (in flesh)200A Fruit: seed colour (dry seed) 200C Fruit: skin color at maturity199B Leaf: color of upper side (in mature leaf after petal fall) 147ALeaf: color of lower side (in mature leaf after petal fall) 148B Plantstem: color on exposed side 177A to 199A

COMPARISON TO CLOSEST CULTIVAR

The distinctive characteristics of this new kiwifruit variety, describedin detail below, were observed in 2005 at Te Puke, New Zealand. The ageof the plants was 6 years from grafting onto seedling rootstocks.

Comparison with similar varieties ‘Hort16A’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,066)and ‘KI 89’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,497) shows that ‘Hort51-1785’ may bedistinguished as follows in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Comparison with similar varieties Color references are in accordwith the RHS Colour Chart, the Royal Hort- icultural Society, London,1966. Observations made under New Zealand growing conditions. Character-istic ‘Hort51-1785’ ‘Hort16A’ ‘KI 89’ Time of full late November midOctober early November bloom Fruit: Color mid-brown, near yellow-brown,reddish-brown, near of skin 199B near 164B/164C 199A/161A Fruit: mean 99g 91 g 103.4 weight Fruit: Core very small small medium diameter(approximately 12.4 (approximately (approximately 15.3 (maximum) mm)13.08 mm) mm) Fruit: globose ovoid cylindrical General shape Fruit:shape rounded protruding slightly depressed at stylar end Fruit: pres-present not present not present ence of internal stylar cavity Fruit:Flesh golden yellow, near yellow, near yellow-green, near color (ripe)162D 12C/12B 145C/154D Fruit: Pres- present not present not present enceof lenticels on skin Fruit: Visi- conspicuous not obvious not obviousbility of lenticels on skin Fruit: Mean 12.5-14% 14-19% 10.8-12.4%soluble sol- ids content when ripe Mean dry 17.8% 18.3% 15.5-17.2%matter at harvest Mean flesh 6.8 Kgf 4.6 Kgf 3.7 Kgf firmness at harvest

Fruit of ‘Hort51-1785’ is globose in shape with a rounded stylar endcompared with the ovoid shape and protruding stylar beak of ‘Hort16A’.The flesh of ‘Hort51-1785’ is golden yellow when ripe compared to thelighter yellow flesh of ‘Hort16A’ and the yellow-green flesh of ‘KI 89’.The skin of ‘Hort51-1785’ is a pale mid-brown color, whereas the skin of‘Hort16A’ is yellow-brown and that of ‘KI 89’ is reddish-brown. Thefruit of ‘Hort51-1785’ has conspicuous, raised lenticels on the skin,‘Hort16A’ and ‘KI 89’ do not have raised lenticels.

The fruit of ‘Hort51-1785’ is generally larger sized, has lower brix,lower dry matter content, and higher flesh firmness at harvest than‘Hort16A’. The fruit of ‘Hort51-1785’ is generally shorter but ofgreater diameter than fruit of either ‘Hort16A’ or ‘KI 89’.

TABLE 2 Comparison with female parent, ‘Jing Feng’ Colour references arein accord with the RHS Colour Chart, the Royal Horticultural Society,London, 1966. Observations made under New Zealand growing conditions.Characteristic ‘Hort51-1785’ ‘Jing Feng’ Time of full bloom lateNovember late November Fruit: color of skin mid-brown, near 199B lightbrown, near 165B Fruit: core diameter 12.4 mm 14.1 mm Fruit: generalshape globose ellipsoidal Fruit: ratio of fruit 0.92 0.78 maximumwidth/fruit length Fruit: mean weight 99 g 103 g Fruit: shape at stylarrounded flat end Fruit: presence of present not present stylar cavityFruit: flesh color golden yellow near 162D golden yellow, near 163DFruit: locule color near 162B near 164B Presence of lenticels presentnot present on fruit skin Visibility of lenticels on conspicuous notobvious fruit skin Mean soluble solids 12.5-14% 11.6-14.6% content ofripe fruit Mean dry matter at 17.8% 16.6% harvest Mean firmness at 6.8Kgf 5.5 Kgf harvest

The most striking difference between ‘Hort51-1785’ and the female parent‘Jing Feng’ is that of fruit shape. ‘Hort51-1785’ has globose-shapedfruit with a ratio of maximum width/fruit length of 0.92 whereas ‘JingFeng’ fruit is ellipsoidal in shape with a ratio of maximum width/fruitlength of 0.78. ‘Hort51-1785’ fruit have a small internal cavity,average length 10.2 mm, at the stylar end, whereas ‘Jing Feng’ fruit hasno cavity.

1. A new and distinct kiwi plant of the species A. chinensissubstantially as herein illustrated and described.